A FATHER who was ‘always there when people needed him’ died as a result of multiple injuries after his car and a lorry collided on the A35 in Bridport last August, an inquest heard.

Gerald Francis Quinn, aged 75 and from Torquay, died at the scene after ‘losing control’ of his car.

At around 5am on Tuesday, August 4, an orange Daewoo Matiz and a white curtain-sided lorry collided on the A35.

The lorry was heading toward Crown Roundabout on Sea Road South when it collided with the car, which was heading in the opposite direction, between West Bay Roundabout and the fire station.

The court was told Mr Quinn suffered a serious head injury and multiple rib injuries. A post mortem examination determined Mr Quinn died from multiple injuries due to a road-traffic accident.

At the inquest, Mr Quinn’s daughter, Fionnuala, wrote a tribute which was read out by the coroner.

It said: “He had a very wide circle of friends. He was a committed life-long Roman Catholic and sang weekly in the choir. Gerald had three grandchildren who he loved spending time with, especially doing jigsaws. Gerald was a well-loved and giving individual. He was always there when people needed him. Only the Saturday before he had talked to me about his plans for the future.”

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

Gerald Francis Quinn

Mr Quinn devoted 30 years of his life as a secondary school French teacher in Torbay before retiring in 1997.

He had three children, Fionnuala, Kevin and Deidre - who sadly died in a car accident in France in 1999.

The driver of the lorry, Craig Mugrage, spoke at the inquest. Mr Mugrage had driven down from Derbyshire to the B&Q in Weymouth the evening before the accident. He was due to drive from Weymouth to Torquay the following morning, a drive he does every week.

He said: “I was heading towards the West Bay roundabout. There was only me on the road at the time. The next thing I remember is him mounting the kerb and then trying to correct it and coming across the road. All I could do was break as best I could. There was nowhere for me to go.”

Police Constable, Darren Close, an experienced collision investigator with Dorset Police attended the accident on August 4 and carried out a forensic report. Speaking at the inquest he said: “The weather at the time was sunny and dry with no recent rainfall. The Daewoo, for an unknown reason, mounted the western kerb. He then returned to the lane. The driver has put a significant amount of steering input which has caused the vehicle to weave from side to side. The driver has lost control of the vehicle and crossed the central line and collided with the lorry.

“The road does slightly narrow before the driver mounted the kerb. That is perhaps a possibility if the driver wasn’t paying attention or didn’t know the road or had fallen asleep.”

Dorset Coroner, Sheriff Payne, recorded a verdict of death caused by a road traffic collision.

Recording his verdict, Mr Payne said: “The lorry driver had no chance to avoid it.

“I want to extend my sympathies and condolences to the family.”